Refrigerated display case



March 29, 1949. SANDERS 2,465,934

REFRIGERATED DISPLAY CASE Filed June 28, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ERNEST E. SANDERS rw aV MJ;

ATTORNEYS March 29, 1949.

Filed June 28, 1945 E. E. SANDERS 2,465,934

REFRIGERATED DISPLAY CASE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.4.

e: Elia? JNVENTOR.

ERNEST E.SANDERS ATTORNEYS Patented 29, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEREFRIGERATED DISPLAY CASE Ernest E. Sanders, Detroit, Mich.

Application June 28, 1945, Serial No. 602,083

The present invention relates to refrigerated display cases and morespecifically to cases of the type in which access to the products ondisplay is had from the upper side of the display container.

Among the objects of the invention is a more eflicient arrangement ofthe several elements of the construction so as to provide for bettercooling of the contents.

Another object is a case in which the several elements are so arrangedas to provide for more efficient operation and maintenance of therefrigerating unit.

Still other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled inthe art upon reference 4 to the following description and theaccompanying drawings in which a Figure 1 is a perspective view of thecase.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the case on line 2-2 of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on line l-l of Figure 3 The case is shownin Figure 1 to be of more or less conventional appearance, having anupper display compartment IDA or receptacle accessible through doors l2and provided with a glass front l3.

The display compartment will be heat insulated at its ends and bottomand in front and at the rear as indicated at H.

As shown, the case above the level of doors 1!, that is, above thehighest part of the display compartment "IA, is provided with an upwardextension, insulated on top and in its four walls and containinng achamber 20, which is narrow from front to back and extends from one endof the case to a point short of the other end, leaving an uninsulatedchamber 2| at this other end.

The brine tank or container for the case is indicated in Figures 2, 3and 4 as consisting of a main or header portion 25 occupying the chamber20 and having a lower forwardly extending portion 25A overhanging therear part of compartment IUA, and having leg portions 253 extending downand back and end walls of compartments l and IDA. This header 253 mayalso connect with hollow partitions 25C dividing the compartment IDAinto plurality of smaller compartments as in my prior Patent No.2,204,919, issued June 18, 1940. However, these partitions or dividersmay be omitted if desired.

Within the extension chamber 20 in this por- 6 Claims. (Cl. 6289.5)

tion of the brine tank is located the evaporator 30, this beingpreferably of the plate type, that is, a continuous coil is produced byforming a sinuous channel in a metal plate and welding over this a flatplate.

The compressor unit is located in compartment 2| and being elevated maybe easily accessible. In this position, too, more efficient dissipationof the heat generated by the unit may be had.

In addition to the legs 25B and the dividers 250, a small longitudinallyextending brine containing plate 35 is arranged in spaced relation tothe window l3 and between these is located a small longitudinal shelf36. This plate 35 will of course connect with the header 25 through thelegs and dividers.

It is also proposed to provide a narrow counter 40- above the window l3extending backwardly over the shelf 36 and its contents. These latter,however, will be plainly visible through the window. Further, suitabledrain means 45 will be provided leading from the lowest point of thecompartment IDA.

The arrangement of the several elements in the manner indicated providesfor the maintenance of the coldest brine well above the space to berefrigerated and, therefore, greatly increases the rapidity of thecirculation of the brine.

Further, with the large area of the header exposed over the rear of thecompartment IDA, there is an increased circulation of the air in thecompartment, the air immediately adjacent the header and toward the rearof the compartment being rapidly cooled, and to a much lowertemperature, immediately falls in the rear portion and produces acorresponding upflow in the front portion.

What I claim is:

1. A refrigerated display case consisting of a receptacle having heatinsulated side and bottom walls, and having access thereto through theupper wall, an upward extension at the rear of said receptacle. saidextension being heat insulated and providing a chamber open to saidreceptacle, a brine tank in said extension, said tank being providedwith hollow plate legs extending down the sides and'back and within saidreceptacle and having a portion extending forwardly into said receptacleand overhanging a portion thereof, a refrigerant evaporator within .thatportion of said tank that is located in said the upper wall, a brinetank located above the level of said space and having a portionoverhanging part of said space, hollow plate-like legs connected to saidtank and lining at least a portlon of the said side walls of said space,a refrigcrating coilin said tank, and a liquefying unit connected tosaid coils.

3. In a. refrigerated display case of the type wherein access to thecontained space is through the upper wall, a brine tank located abovethe level of said space'and having a portio'n overhanging part of saidspace, hollow plate-like legs connected to said tank and lining at leasta portion of the side walls of said space, a refrigerating coil in saidtank, and a liquefying unit connected to said coils, said unit beingalso located above the level of said space.

4. In a refrigerated display case of the type wherein access to theinterior food compartment is through an opening in the upper wall, abrine tank located above the level of said opening and having a portionoverhanging part of the interior food compartment, a plurality of hollowplate-like legs connected to said tank and lining at least a portion ofthe side walls of the interior of said case, a plate-like hollow headerextend ing downwardly at the rear of said space and connected to thesaid legs and tank, a refrigerating plate in said tank, and aliquefyin'g unit operatively connected to said plate.

5. In a refrigerated display case of the type wherein access to theinterior food compartment is through an opening in the upper wall, abrine tank located above the level of said opening and having a portionoverhanging part of the interior food compartment, a plurality ofhollow-plate like legs connected to said tank and lining at least aportion of the side walls oi the interior of said case, a plate-Likehollow header extending downwardly at the rear of said space andconnected to the said legs and tank, some oi said legs serving to dividesaid interior into a plurality of small compartments, 8, refrigeratingplate in said tank, and. a liquefying unit operatively connected to saidplate.

6. In a refrigerated display case of the type wherein access to theinterior food compartment is through an opening in the upper wall, abrine tank located above the level of said opening and having a portionoverhanging part of the interior food compartment, a plurality of hollowplatelike legs connected to said tank and lining at least a. portion ofthe side walls of the interior of said case, a plate-like hollow headerextending downwardly at the rear of said space and ERNEST E. SANDERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,207,586 Hill July 9, 19402,248,286 Sanders July 8, 1941

